Tow vehicle: 2013 Nissan Quest SV 6 cyl.Max tow capacity: 3500#Torque: 240 ft/lbRV: 2000 Trailmanor 2720 SLDry weight: 2875#Payload cap: ~1210#Hitch weight: ~392#In the van will be my wife and two young kids.Van dry weight: 4400#So, vehicle weight + load/passenger = approx. 5000#I'm looking at whether a class 2 or class 3 trailer hitch would be more appropriate. As well as whether a weight distribution hitch might be an even safer idea.Thoughts on safety of pulling this pop up/expandable camper with my van??

Keep posting and someone is sure to approve of your TV and trailer set up. Won’t be me..you are way overloaded.

Are you going to tow the camper completely empty? What is the payload on the Quest? The listed hitch weight on the TrailManor has to be empty - use 12% of the trailer's GVWR to calculate an estimated tongue weight for the loaded trailer. You may not have enough tow vehicle.Rob

Second, not sure OP understands TV payload. He wants an “ok” for this van, the trailer and his family.

Class 3. Our situation is very similar and we opted for class 3. As I recall we could not find a class 2 and the numbers were the deciding factor.

Towing camper with van. What rating hitch should I purchase?

bikendan
Explorer
Sep 17, 2020
spol11 wrote:
Thanks for the replies everyone! Definitely good feedback. I figured class 3 was better option but this solidified my choice.
I also knew that I was going to be maxed out (or very close) with supplies in camper/van but some of your info has me thinking I need to just purchase a truck with better towing capabilities sooner than later. The last thing I want to do is ruin the transmission on my wife's van in a year or two of camping.
(sorry for the cross post).

There aren't any hybrids with a dry tongue weight under 350lbs. The Rockwod Roo line of hybrids, are the best selling hybrid line and the most floorplans. Their smallest Roo 19 has a fictitious dry tongue weight of 448lbs. That's with no battery, no factory options, no water and no cargo.
Popups or A-frame trailers are pretty much all you can tow with that. It's the 350lbs max hitch weight that's the biggest issue.
spol11
Explorer
Sep 17, 2020
Good input bikendan.
I have found that the tongue weight on this particular trailer is about 390#. Obviously that still exceeds the van's max TW.
Would a weight dist. hitch help at all??
or is it as simple as TW cannot exceed TW capacity of towing vehicle? thanks in advance.
valhalla360
Navigator
Sep 17, 2020
I would pick the hitch attached to a truck with sufficient ratings.
spol11
Explorer
Sep 17, 2020
valhalla360... I'm trying hard to get someone to tell me everything will work out great and my setup is fine :)

At this very moment, a truck is unobtainable. But after going through my math numerous times and getting great feedback on this forum, I'm quickly realizing a used truck will likely be in my driveway by next year.
bikendan
Explorer
Sep 18, 2020
spol11 wrote:
Good input bikendan.
I have found that the tongue weight on this particular trailer is about 390#. Obviously that still exceeds the van's max TW.
Would a weight dist. hitch help at all??
or is it as simple as TW cannot exceed TW capacity of towing vehicle? thanks in advance.

a WDH will not lower tongue weight, it just shifts it. and is that 390lbs the actual weighed tongue weight or a brochure/website "dry" tongue weight? and we haven't even discussed the van's payload capacity.
valhalla360
Navigator
Sep 18, 2020
spol11 wrote:
valhalla360... I'm trying hard to get someone to tell me everything will work out great and my setup is fine :)

At this very moment, a truck is unobtainable. But after going through my math numerous times and getting great feedback on this forum, I'm quickly realizing a used truck will likely be in my driveway by next year.

You can get a reliable 4 door pickup that will easily handle that trailer pretty cheap.

Our current 2008 F250 4 door was only $10k and we've had it for 2yrs with nothing but standard maintenance (not that you need a 3/4 ton). Our previous 3/4 ton was only $6k. Reliability has never been an issue buying at around 10yrs old (current truck is really clean but body rust can be an appearance issue)
spol11
Explorer
Sep 18, 2020
Bikendan, that was dry TW. I've redone my math.... I would have to somehow keep my van/trailer payload at/under 300# to be safe and that's just not happening. And the TW is an immediate issue, so that van wont be pulling anytime soon.
Valhalla360, I have already started looking. I'll be back in the forums with more questions once I get a proper TV.
bikendan
Explorer
Sep 18, 2020
spol11 wrote:
Bikendan, that was dry TW. I've redone my math.... I would have to somehow keep my van/trailer payload at/under 300# to be safe and that's just not happening. And the TW is an immediate issue, so that van wont be pulling anytime soon.
Valhalla360, I have already started looking. I'll be back in the forums with more questions once I get a proper TV.

Yep, the 350lbs max hitch weight is the main weakness for minivans, then the 3500lbs towing capacity.
That's why Popups, teardrops and A-frames are about the only choices.

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Towing camper with van. What rating hitch should I purchase?

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